FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure pertains generally to refrigerator cabinets, and more particularly
to refrigerator cabinets with features for moving and/or leveling the cabinet onsite.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Commercial refrigerator cabinets are widely used to refrigerate large quantities
of goods such as food or medicine. For example, refrigerated merchandiser cabinets
are used to hold refrigerated food for sale. Many end users require the cabinet to
be installed level for properly storing the refrigerated goods. Typically, the cabinet
is placed on shim stacks, which facilitate leveling the unit.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one aspect a refrigeration cabinet comprises walls separating an exterior of the
cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is configured to be refrigerated by a
refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall. A
foot is connected to the bottom wall for supporting the bottom wall on a support surface.
The foot is selectively movable relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical position
of the foot with respect to the bottom wall. The bottom wall is configured such that
the foot is accessible from within the interior of the cabinet to allow a user to
selectively move the foot to adjust the vertical position of the foot with respect
to the bottom wall.
[0004] In another aspect, a method of deploying a refrigeration cabinet comprises positioning
the refrigeration cabinet at a deployment location such that the refrigeration cabinet
is supported on a support surface. At least one of a plurality of feet connected to
a bottom wall of the refrigeration cabinet is moved relative to the bottom wall to
adjust a vertical position of the bottom wall relative to the support surface. And
moving at least one of a plurality of feet comprises accessing said at least one of
a plurality of feet within an interior of the refrigeration cabinet.
[0005] In another aspect, a refrigeration cabinet comprises walls separating an exterior
of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is configured to be refrigerated
by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall.
At least one foot is connected to the bottom wall and protrudes downward from the
bottom wall a first distance. The foot being movable relative to the bottom wall along
a vertical axis. A floor glide is connected to the bottom wall and protrudes downward
from the bottom wall a second distance greater than the first distance. The floor
glide is configured to enable the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployment
position and the foot is configured to be lowered after the cabinet is at the deployment
position to support the cabinet at the deployment position on the foot.
[0006] In another aspect, a refrigeration cabinet comprises walls separating an exterior
of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is configured to be refrigerated
by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall.
A foot is connected to the bottom wall for supporting the bottom wall on a support
surface. The foot is selectively movable relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical
position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall. A driver is configured to automatically
drive movement of the foot. A level sensor is configured to output a signal representative
of a level orientation of the cabinet. A controller is configured to receive the signal
from the level sensor and to actuate the driver based on the signal to move the foot
to level the cabinet.
[0007] In another aspect, a refrigeration cabinet comprises walls separating an exterior
of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is configured to be refrigerated
by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall.
A foot is connected to the bottom wall for supporting the bottom wall on a support
surface. The foot is selectively movable relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical
position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall. The bottom wall is configured
such that the foot is accessible from within the interior of the cabinet to allow
a user to selectively move the foot to adjust the vertical position of the foot with
respect to the bottom wall. The foot includes a stop configured to limit downward
adjustment of the foot with respect to the bottom wall of the cabinet.
[0008] In another aspect, a support assembly for a refrigerated cabinet comprises a support
bracket including at least one threaded opening and an adjustable foot for each of
the at least one threaded opening. Each adjustable foot includes a threaded shaft
threadably received in the threaded opening. The threaded shaft has an upper end portion
and a lower end portion spaced apart along an axis of the threaded shaft. The upper
end portion of the threaded shaft includes a peripheral annular groove. Each adjustable
foot further includes a retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove.
The retaining ring is sized and arranged to engage an upper portion of the support
bracket when the adjustable foot is threadably advanced downward to a bottom position
of the adjustable foot, whereby the retaining ring forms a stop that limits downward
movement of the adjustable foot with respect to the support bracket.
[0009] Other aspects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective of a refrigerated merchandiser cabinet;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a portion of the cabinet showing
a toe kick connected to a bottom wall via a support assembly;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the cabinet;
FIG. 4 is a perspective of one support assembly;
FIG. 5 is a perspective of a bottom assembly of the cabinet including a bottom wall
and a plurality of support assemblies, showing feet of the support assemblies in various
stages of use;
FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing a
foot of a support assembly in an upper position;
FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 5, showing a
center range gauge and a drill bit engaged with a foot of a support assembly in an
upper position;
FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 5, showing a
drill engaged with another foot of the support assembly of FIG. 7, wherein the foot
is at a lower position and a center range gauge is received at an indicating position
in an access opening of the bottom wall;
FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 5, showing a
foot of a support assembly in a lower position and an insulating plug in a corresponding
access opening;
FIG. 10 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 5, showing
another foot of the support assembly of FIG. 9 in a lower position, an insulating
plug in a corresponding access opening, and a cap over the insulating plug;
FIG. 11 is a front elevation of a level indicator;
FIG. 12 is a perspective of a center range gauge;
FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of an automated leveling system of a refrigerated
cabinet;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a portion of a support bracket including
a foot having a stop on an upper end portion of a threaded shaft;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the upper end portion of the shaft of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective of the foot of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective similar to FIG. 14 but showing the
foot at a bottom positioning of its range of motion where the stop limits downward
movement of the foot; and
FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 17.
[0011] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a refrigerated cabinet in the scope of
this disclosure is generally indicated at reference number 110. In the illustrated
embodiment, the refrigerated cabinet 110 comprises a commercial retail merchandiser
cabinet. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, retail merchandisers may be
equipped with one or more glass doors 112 so that the contents of the cabinet are
visible to customers of a retail establishment. It is also contemplated that refrigerated
cabinets in the scope of the disclosure may be air curtain-type merchandisers which
utilize air curtains in place of doors. Still further, it is contemplated that other
types of refrigerated cabinets may be used without departing from the scope of the
disclosure. For example, refrigerated cabinets can include upright commercial refrigerators
and/or freezers, under-counter refrigerators and/or freezers, open-top refrigerators
and/or freezers, drawer refrigerators and/or freezers, or other types of residential
or commercial refrigerators and/or freezers. It is contemplated that refrigerated
cabinets in the scope of this disclosure may be of the standalone type (where the
refrigeration system is incorporated with the cabinet in a single product), of the
remote refrigeration type (where the refrigeration system mechanical components are
located remote from the refrigeration cabinet and connected to the refrigeration cabinet
by ducting, plumbing, and electrical lines), or of another type (e.g., where the cabinet
is manufactured separately from the refrigeration system but is configured to have
the separate refrigeration unit installed on the cabinet
in situ).
[0013] The inventors have recognized that refrigeration cabinets of the various types described
above can be difficult to install level. The problem is particularly acute in large
format merchandiser cabinets, which are very heavy and cumbersome to move. The typical
process requires a crew of technicians to load the cabinet onto a jack truck or forklift
and then move the cabinet to a deployment position, where the back of the cabinet
is typically positioned against a wall or the back of another cabinet. At the deployment
position, the cabinet is lowered onto a plurality of stacks of shims, which allow
for later height adjustments to level the unit. If the cabinet is being installed
in a side-by-side run with additional cabinets, the same process is repeated for the
additional cabinets, and then the cabinets are coupled together using mechanical fasteners
and sealant. When all of the cabinets are arranged side-by-side, the installer checks
the cabinets for levelness. If, as is typical, the cabinets are not initially installed
perfectly level, the installer must crawl on the floor and reach under the cabinet
to iteratively remove shims from selected shim stacks until the cabinet reaches a
level orientation. The inventors have recognized that this process is time consuming
and difficult for installers. Because refrigerated cabinets are typically very heavy,
it is not easy for installers to load a cabinet onto a jack or accurately lower a
cabinet onto a shim stack. Further, the process of removing shims that support the
cabinet is challenging, particularly when it is necessary to remove shims from shim
stacks positioned near the rear of the cabinet, where access is typically obstructed.
Accordingly, the inventors have contemplated an adjustable support system that enables
installers to more easily move the heavy cabinet 110 into place and then level the
cabinet once it is in position.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 the cabinet 110 generally comprises a set of walls that separate
a refrigerated interior from an exterior of the cabinet. In the illustrated embodiment,
the cabinet comprises a pair of side walls 114, a rear wall 116, a top wall 118, and
a bottom wall 120. It will be appreciated that, if the cabinet was to be used in a
side-by-side configuration with one or more additional refrigerated cabinets, one
or both of the side walls could be omitted to provide a contiguous interior along
the span of cabinets. It will be appreciated that cabinets with other numbers of doors
(e.g., one or more doors) may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 110 is configured for top-mounted refrigeration.
Thus, a refrigeration system (not shown) is mountable on the top wall 118 for cooling
the interior of the cabinet 110. An upper shroud 124 is positioned around the perimeter
of the top wall 118 above the doors 112 for concealing the refrigeration system. The
cabinet 110 has a width extending between the side walls 114 and a depth extending
front-to-rear from the doors 112 to the rear wall 116.
[0015] The bottom wall 120 of the refrigerated cabinet 110 comprises a foam insulation panel
125 (FIGS. 6-10) extending along the width and depth of the cabinet. In addition,
the bottom wall 120 comprises upper and lower skins 126 (e.g., sheet metal skins,
FIGS. 6-10) that substantially encapsulate the insulation panel 125. The upper skin
126 defines the upper surface of the bottom wall 120 and the lower skin 126 defines
the lower surface of the bottom wall. As shown in FIGS. 5-10, the illustrated bottom
wall 120 comprises a plurality of pluggable access openings 128 extending through
the wall thickness from the lower surface through the upper surface of the wall such
that the access openings open to and are accessible from the interior of the cabinet
110. In particular, the illustrated bottom wall 120 comprises three access openings
128 spaced apart widthwise along the front portion of the bottom wall and three access
openings spaced apart widthwise along the rear portion of the bottom wall. It is contemplated
that other cabinet bottom walls can have other arrangements of one or more access
openings. In certain exemplary embodiments, the bottom wall may comprise at least
one access opening at each of the four corner regions of the bottom wall.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 110 comprises three
support assemblies 130 coupled to the bottom wall 120 at spaced apart locations along
the width of the cabinet between the side walls 114. The three support assemblies
130 form the above-referenced support system of the illustrated cabinet 110. In general,
each of the support assemblies 130 is configured to support the cabinet 110 on an
underlying support surface (e.g., a floor). Each of the illustrated support assemblies
130 comprises a support bracket 132 that is configured to support one or more fixed,
low-friction floor glides 134 and one or more adjustable stabilizing feet 136. In
the illustrated embodiment, each of the support assemblies 130 is substantially identical
to the others. But in other embodiments, it is contemplated that the support assemblies
could differ depending on, for example, their position along the bottom wall.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 4, the support bracket 132 comprises a bracket plate that includes
an elongate upper web 140 extending longitudinally from a front end portion to a rear
end portion. The support bracket 132 is installed on the lower surface of the bottom
wall 120 so that the elongate web 140 extends generally front-to-rear with the front
end portion underlying the front portion of the bottom wall and the rear end portion
underlying the rear portion of the bottom wall. The illustrated support bracket 132
further comprises front and rear flanges 142 that extend downward from the front and
rear end portions of the upper web 140 along the front and rear end portions thereof.
The front flange 142 includes a front edge portion 144 that forms a toe kick attachment
fixture defining toe kick attachment points (e.g., fastener holes such as screw or
bolt holes) for attaching a toe kick 122 (FIG. 2) to the remainder of the cabinet
110. In certain embodiments, the attachment points can be defined by clip-on nuts
that are secured to the front edge portion 144. Each of the flanges 142 further comprises
a side edge portion 146 that forms a cabinet-to-cabinet attachment fixture that defines
attachment points (e.g., faster holes such as screw or bolt holes) for attaching the
refrigerated cabinet 110 to an adjacent cabinet. Thus, it will be appreciated that
the support assemblies 130 installed along the side portions of the cabinet should
be installed so that the side edge portions 146 of the flanges 142 face laterally
outward.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, in an exemplary embodiment, one floor glide 134 is attached
to the bottom of the upper web 140 at a location adjacent the front end portion of
the bracket 132 and another floor glide 134 is attached to the bottom of the upper
web at a location adjacent the rear end portion of the bracket. As shown in FIGS.
6-8, the floor glide 134 can be mounted on the support bracket 120 to protrude downward
from the bottom wall 120 by a vertical distance DF. In one or more embodiments, the
distance DF can be a fixed distance. In other words, the floor glide 134 can be fixedly
mounted on the support plate 130. As will be explained in further detail below, the
feet 136, by contrast, are vertically adjustable in relation to the support bracket
132 to adjust the orientation of the cabinet 110 on the support surface (e.g., to
level the cabinet). In exemplary embodiments, the floor glides 134 have lower contact
surfaces formed from relatively low-friction material. For example, in one or more
embodiments the floor glides are formed from one or more of polyoxymethylene, polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, and nylon. In the illustrated embodiment,
each of the floor glides 134 has an inverted dome shape or semispherical shape pointing
downward. Other shapes, including flat-bottom shapes, are also possible within the
scope of the disclosure.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 6-7, the upper web 140 of the support bracket 132 comprises a
front and rear foot openings 148 adjacent the front and rear end portions of the support
bracket. The bracket 132 further comprises a nut 150 affixed (e.g., welded) to the
upper web 150 at each foot opening 148 to define a respective threaded opening of
the bracket. It is also contemplated that a threaded opening may be tapped directly
into a bracket plate in one or more alternative embodiments. As will be explained
in further detail below, each nut 150 is configured to threadably connect to one of
the feet 136 so that the foot is vertically adjustable with respect to the bottom
wall 120. Each nut 150 is received in a lower portion of a respective one of the access
openings 128 (e.g., the threaded opening is in registration with the access opening)
so that a portion of the respective foot 136 can extend through the nut and the access
opening.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4-10, in general, each support assembly 130 comprises at least
one adjustable foot 136 that is connected to the bottom wall 120 for supporting the
bottom wall and the remainder of the cabinet 110 on a support surface. As explained
more fully below, each foot 136 is movable relative to the bottom wall 120 to adjust
a vertical position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall. In other words, the
foot 136 is movable along a vertical axis to adjust an adjustable distance DA between
the bottom wall 120 and an underlying support surface. By adjusting the adjustable
distance DA of one or more of a plurality of feet 136 connected to the bottom wall
120 at spaced apart locations along the depth and width of the cabinet 110, an installer
can level the cabinet. As will be explained more fully below, an installer can adjust
the illustrated feet 136 working inside the cabinet, eliminating the need for crawling
on the floor and reaching under the cabinet during the leveling process. In the illustrated
embodiment, each foot 136 has a range of motion relative to the bottom wall 120 along
a vertical axis. The complete range of motion extends from an uppermost position shown
in FIGS. 6-7, at which a bottom of the foot is spaced apart above a bottom of the
floor glide 134, to a lowermost position somewhat lower to the positions shown in
FIGS. 8-10, and at which the bottom of the foot is spaced apart below the bottom of
the floor glide.
[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, each foot 136 comprises a contact portion 152 and
a threaded shaft 154 extending upward from the contact portion along a vertical axis.
In general, the contact portions 152 of one or more of the feet 136 comprise a bottom
surface formed from material having a greater static coefficient of friction than
the floor glides 134. As such, when the feet 136 are lowered to lift the cabinet off
of the floor glides 134, the cabinet 110 is stably supported on the feet. In one or
more embodiments, the contact portion 152 of one or more of the feet 136 can comprise
a contact pad defining the bottom surface and formed from an elastomer such as styrene-butadiene
rubber. In certain embodiments, the contact portions 152 of a subset of the feet include
elastomeric contact pads while the bottom surfaces of the remaining feet are formed
from a metal contact part. It is believed, that including a metal contact part on
at least some of the feet 136 enables greater control of fine height adjustments when
leveling a cabinet 110 or connecting the cabinet end-to-end with additional cabinets.
In exemplary arrangement, four feet positioned at corner regions of the cabinet bottom
wall include metal contact and one or more feet at central locations along the bottom
wall include elastomeric contact pads.
[0022] The threaded shaft 154 of each foot 136 is configured to be threadably received in
a respective one of the nuts 150. Because each nut 150 is received in a respective
access opening 128 and the access opening opens to the interior of the cabinet 110,
the foot 136-in particular the upper end portion or head 156 of the threaded shaft
154-is accessible through the access opening from within the interior of the cabinet.
As will now be appreciated, this enables an installer to adjust the distance DA between
the bottom wall 120 and the support surface on which the cabinet 110 rests from within
the interior of the cabinet. The threaded shaft 154 is received in the nut 150 such
that the distance DA can be adjusted by rotating the shaft 154 relative to the support
bracket 132. In the illustrated embodiment, the head 156 of the shaft 154 includes
a driver bit recess (e.g., a Phillips recess, a slotted recess, a torx recess, a spline
recess, a hexagonal recess, etc.) configured to connect the threaded shaft to a drill
bit B (FIG. 7, broadly a tool head) or other driver for rotation therewith. Thus,
an installer can use a drill D (FIGS. 5, 8) or driver (e.g., a socket wrench) within
the interior of the cabinet 110 to adjust the vertical distance DA that each foot
136 extends downward from the bottom wall 120, enabling the installer to perform all
of the required leveling adjustments from within the cabinet interior.
[0023] FIGS. 6-7 depict a foot 136 of the cabinet 110 in an exemplary initial position.
Here, "initial position" broadly refers to a position of the foot 136 immediately
before a cabinet is slid along a support surface to or from a deployment position.
"Deployment position" refers to a position of the entire cabinet 110 at which the
cabinet is deployed for refrigeration, for example, against the wall of a retail store.
As shown in FIGS. 6-7, in the initial position, the bottom of each foot 136 is spaced
apart above the bottom of the adjacent floor glide 134. In other words, the fixed
distance DF by which the bottom of the glide 134 is spaced apart from the bottom of
the wall 120 is greater than the adjustable distance DA by which the bottom of the
foot 136 is spaced from the bottom of the wall. As such, when the feet 136 are in
the initial (upper) positions, the cabinet 110 is supported on the floor glides 134.
As can be seen, this enables the cabinet 110 to be moved with relative ease along
a floor to a deployment position, without requiring any lifting/moving equipment such
as a pallet jack or a forklift. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the cabinet 110
ships from a factory or distribution warehouse with each of the feet 136 in the initial
(upper) position shown in FIG. 6. After the cabinet 110 is slid on the protruding
glides 134 across the floor to a deployment position, the feet 136 are lowered to
the positions shown in FIGS. 8-10.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, in one or more embodiments, each of the feet 136 is
configured to be lowered to a final cabinet-supporting position at which the head
156 is recessed below the top of the corresponding access opening 128. The purpose
of recessing the heads 156 in this manner is so that a portion of the opening 128
extending through the insulation panel 125 can be filled with an insulating plug 160,
as shown in FIGS. 9-10. Each insulating plug 160 is formed from a material with good
thermal insulation properties. As such, when each of the feet 136 is lowered and each
of the openings 128 is filled with a respective plug 160, the bottom wall 120 provides
a substantially contiguous layer of insulation along the bottom of the cabinet interior.
In one or more embodiments, the plugs may be covered with removable caps 162 suitably
matched in appearance and/or material to the upper skin 126.
[0025] In order to provide sufficient clearance for the plugs 160, in one or more embodiments,
before making final leveling adjustments, each of the feet 136 is lowered to a "center
range position" that is substantially vertically centered along a lower portion of
the total range of motion that can accommodate the entire plug 160, e.g., along the
entire lower portion of the range of motion, the plug can be received in the access
opening above the head 156. This allows small leveling adjustments to subsequently
be made to any of the feet 136 (e.g., movement up or down from the center range position),
while ensuring that feet remain within the lower portion of the range of motion to
accommodate the plug 160. To ensure that the cabinet 110 is installed level with each
of the feet positioned within this lower portion of the range of motion, as shown
in FIGS. 5, 7, 8, and 12, the illustrated cabinet includes a center range gauge 164
that indicates the location of the head 156 at a center position within the lower
portion of the range of motion. In particular, the center range gauge 164 comprises
a lower annular wall 166 configured to be received over the upper end portion of the
threaded shaft 154, a pair of arms 168 extending upward from the perimeter edge margin
of the lower annular wall on diametrically opposite sides, and flanges 170 extending
radially outward from the upper end portions of the arms 168. In use, the lower annular
wall 166 is positioned on the head 156 of the threaded shaft 154 as shown in FIG.
7. The spaced arms 168 and the opening through the annular wall 166 allow a bit B
or other tool to head engage the shaft head 156. The bit B is then used to rotate
the threaded shaft 154 and thereby lower the foot 136 until the upper flanges 170
engage the upper surface of the bottom wall 120, as shown in FIG. 8. The engagement
of the upper flanges 170 with the upper surface of the bottom wall 120 provides an
indication that the foot 136 is located generally at the desired center range location.
In one or more embodiments, after the cabinet 110 is slid on the floor glides 134
to a deployment position, the center range gauge 164 is used to position each of the
feet 126 at the respective center range location before making fine adjustments to
the feet to level the cabinet 110. This ensures that, when the cabinet is finally
leveled, each of the feet 136 is positioned low enough on the bottom wall 120 so that
the plug 160 can fit within the access opening 128.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 11, in one or more embodiments, the cabinet includes a level indicator
172. In the illustrated embodiment, the level indicator 172 comprises a spirit or
bubble level. More particularly, the illustrated indicator 172 comprises a tubular
horizontal spirit level 174 and a tubular vertical spirit level 176. It is contemplated
that, in another embodiment, the level will comprise a bullseye level. Suitably, the
level indicator 172 is mounted on the interior surface of at least one of the walls
114, 116 adjacent one of the access openings 128. In certain embodiments, multiple
level indicators 172 are mounted on the walls 114, 116 adjacent respective access
openings 128. In some embodiments, a first level indicator 172 may be mounted on the
rear wall 116 for indicating levelness in the widthwise direction and a second level
indicator may be mounted on one of the side walls 114 for indicating levelness in
the front-to-back direction. Providing one or more integrated level indicators 172
enables the technician to make a verification of levelness while making adjustments
to the vertical positions of one or more of the feet 136 from within the interior
of the cabinet 110. In certain embodiments the level indicator 172 may not be affixed
to the cabinet 110. For example, the cabinet 110 may include a manual or decal that
provides instructions on where to place the level during the leveling process.
[0027] An exemplary method of deploying the cabinet 110 will now be briefly described. The
cabinet 110 is initially shipped from the manufacturer or distributor with the feet
136 in the initial positions shown in FIG. 6. In other words, each of the floor glides
134 protrude downward from the bottom wall 120 by a distance DF and each of the feet
136 protrude downward from the bottom wall by a distance DA that is less than the
distance DF. Thus, the cabinet 110 is supported on the floor glides 134. In this configuration,
the cabinet 110 can slide on the floor glides 134 with relative ease to move the cabinet
to the deployment position (e.g., a location against the wall).
[0028] Once the cabinet 110 is positioned at the desired deployment position, the installers
can support the cabinet on its feet 136. Initially, the installers use the center
range gauge 164 to lower each foot 136 to a center range position, as shown in FIGS.
7 and 8. More specifically, the installers place the gauge 164 on the head 156 of
each threaded shaft 154 inside the interior of the cabinet 110 and then use a drill
D or other driver inside the cabinet to rotate the shaft until the flanges 170 engage
the upper surface of the bottom wall 120, indicating the foot 136 is at the desired
center range position. Subsequently, the installer users a drill D or other driver
to make fine adjustments to the vertical positions of selected feet 136 until the
cabinet is level in both the widthwise and front-to-rear directions. More particularly,
the installer engages a tool head B to the head 156 of the threaded shaft 154 of selected
ones of the feet 136 within the interior of the cabinet 110 and rotates the tool head
to rotate the foot 136 relative to the bottom wall 120 and thereby adjust the vertical
position as desired. In certain embodiments, the installers utilize integrated level
indicators 172 to determine that the cabinet 110 is roughly level. Optionally, the
installer may then place a long level (e.g., a box beam level) along a reference surface
of the cabinet 110 to ensure that the cabinet is substantially level widthwise and
front-to-rear. Additional adjustments may be made to the feet 136 from inside the
cabinet 110 to further improve levelness as required. Once the cabinet is leveled
to satisfaction, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the installer inserts plugs 160 into
each of the access openings 128 and installs caps 162 over the plugs.
[0029] One potential advantage of the illustrated cabinet 110 is for use in a setting that
may require periodic redeployment of the cabinet at different locations. The cabinet
110 can be moved by removing the caps 162 and plugs 160, rotating the threaded shafts
154 of the feet 136 to raise the feet so that the cabinet is again supported on the
glides 134, and then sliding the cabinet on the glides to the desired redeployment
location. Once the cabinet 110 reaches the redeployment location, the feet 136 can
be lowered and used to stabilize and level the cabinet in the same manner described
above.
[0030] It is contemplated, that in one or more embodiments, the cabinet 110 may be provided
with an automated leveling system 178. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the cabinet
110 comprises a level controller 180, one or more foot drivers 182, and a level sensor
184. The level sensor 184 may be integrated into the cabinet or may be a separate
instrument configured to plug into the controller 180 of the cabinet via a communication
port. Each foot driver 182 may comprise an electric motor coupled to a gear train
configured to drive rotation of the threaded shaft 154 of a respective one of the
feet. The level sensor 184 suitably comprises one or more inclinometers or other sensor
configured to provide an output signal representative of an orientation of one or
more axes of a plane of the cabinet 110 intended to be horizontal when deployed. The
controller 180 is connected to the level sensor 184 to receive the orientation signal.
In response to the orientation signal, the controller is configured to send control
signals to the foot drivers 182 that actuate the drivers 182 to raise and lower the
feet as needed to level the plane of the cabinet.
[0031] It is also contemplated that a controller 180 and an electronic level sensor 184
can be used with a manually adjusted foot 136. For example, in one or more embodiments,
the controller 180 is connected to an indicator (e.g., a display, a light element,
an audio device, etc.). The controller can interpret the signal from the level sensor
184 and actuate the indicator to provide indications to the installer of the levelness
of the cabinet.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 14-18, the inventors have recognized that there is a risk
that an installer, working from within the cabinet to adjust the feet, could, by mistake,
lower a foot beyond the lowest position at which it remains securely connected to
the cabinet 110. This presents a serious safety risk. If one of the feet were to become
disconnected, the cabinet 110 could tip or fall onto the installer. As explained above,
there are many advantages to the illustrated adjustment system enabling the installer
to adjust the feet from inside the cabinet 110. But the installer does not have a
clear line of site to the point of connection between the foot and the support bracket.
Hence, the inventors believe that providing an additional restraint against over-rotating
the foot can make the installation process safer for the installer.
[0033] In order to address this safety risk, the inventors have designed a new foot 136'
that includes a stop 137' broadly configured to limit downward adjustment of the foot
with respect to the bottom wall of the cabinet 110. The foot 136' is substantially
similar to the foot 136, except for features pertaining to the stop 137'. Features
of the foot 136' corresponding to the foot 136 will be given the same reference number,
followed by a prime symbol. The foot 136' may replace the foot 136 in the cabinet
110 and throughout this disclosure.
[0034] The foot 136' comprises a threaded shaft 154' having an upper end portion 156' and a
lower end portion spaced apart along an axis A of the threaded shaft. The stop 137'
broadly comprises a projection extending radially outward with respect to the axis
A at the upper end portion 156' of the threaded shaft 154'. More particularly, in
the illustrated embodiment, the upper end portion 156' of the threaded shaft 154'
comprises a peripheral annular groove 157' (FIG. 16) and the stop 137' comprises a
retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove. As shown in FIG. 16, the
retaining ring 137' comprises an external shaft ring having a first end portion 137A',
a second end portion 137B', and a length extending from the first end portion to the
second end portion. The length of the retaining ring 137' extends in a loop about
the axis A of the threaded shaft 154' such that the first end portion 137A' is located
adjacent to the second end portion 137B' and is spaced apart from the second end portion
by slit in the retaining ring. The first end portion 137A' and the second end portion
137B' of the retaining ring 137' each have a first radial dimension RD1 with respect
to the axis A of the threaded shaft 154'. The retaining ring 137' further comprises
a segment 137C' between the first end portion 137A' and the second end portion 137B',
which segment (137C') extends along a majority of the length of the retaining ring.
This middle segment 137C' has a second radial dimension RD2. The first radial dimension
RD1 is greater than the second radial dimension RD2 such that at least the first and
second end portions 137A', 137B' form the radial protrusion that provides the stop
limiting downward movement of the foot 136'. In certain embodiments, the radial dimension
RD2 of the middles segment 137C' is sized so that the entire middle segment also protrudes
radially from the shaft 154' to form a radial protrusion that provides a stop limiting
downward movement of the foot 136'
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 14, 17, and 18, the threaded shaft 154' of each foot 136' is threadably
received in one of the nuts 150 of the support brackets 132. In an exemplary embodiment,
a foot 136' with safety stop 137' is received in each nut 150 of the cabinet 110.
As explained above, the threaded shafts 154' can be used to lift the cabinet 110 off
of the glides 134 onto the feet 136' and can be further adjusted to level the cabinet
110. During these processes, the threaded shaft 154' is configured to be threadably
advanced downward by rotation with respect to the nut 150. If the installer would
accidentally over-rotate the foot 136', the stop 137' is configured to engage the
top of nut 150 to limit downward adjustment of the foot with respect to the bottom
wall 120 of the cabinet 110. In other words, the stop 137' defines a bottom position
of a vertical adjustment range of the foot 136' and will not allow the foot the be
moved downward past this bottom position.
[0036] When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s)
thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there
are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having"
are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other
than the listed elements.
[0037] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are
achieved and other advantageous results attained.
[0038] As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing
from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0039]
- 1. A refrigeration cabinet, the cabinet comprising:
walls separating an exterior of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is
configured to be refrigerated by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet,
the walls including a bottom wall;
a foot connected to the bottom wall for supporting the bottom wall on a support surface,
the foot being selectively movable relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical
position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall;
wherein the bottom wall is configured such that the foot is accessible from within
the interior of the cabinet to allow a user to selectively move the foot to adjust
the vertical position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall; and
wherein the foot includes a stop configured to limit downward adjustment of the foot
with respect to the bottom wall of the cabinet.
- 2. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 1, wherein the foot comprises a
threaded shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion spaced apart along
an axis of the threaded shaft.
- 3. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 2, wherein the stop comprises a
projection extending radially outward with respect to the axis at the upper end portion
of the threaded shaft.
- 4. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 3, wherein the upper end portion
of the threaded shaft comprises a peripheral annular groove.
- 5. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 4, wherein the stop comprises a
retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove.
- 6. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 5, wherein the retaining ring comprises
an external shaft ring having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length
extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the length of the
external shaft ring extending in a loop about the axis of the threaded shaft such
that the first end portion is located adjacent to the second end portion and is spaced
apart from the second end portion by slit in the retaining ring.
- 7. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 6, wherein the first end portion
and the second end portion of the retaining ring each having a radial dimension with
respect to the axis of the threaded shaft that is greater than a radial dimension
of a segment of the length of the external shaft ring spaced apart between the first
end portion and the second end portion and which segment extends a majority of the
length of the retaining ring.
- 8. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 3, further comprising a support
bracket connected to the bottom wall, wherein the foot is coupled to the support bracket.
- 9. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 8, wherein the support bracket
comprises a threaded opening and the threaded shaft is threadably received in the
threaded opening such that the vertical position of the foot is adjustable by rotating
the foot relative to the support bracket.
- 10. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 9, wherein the support bracket
comprises a bracket plate and a nut affixed to the bracket plate, the nut defining
at least a portion of the threaded opening.
- 11. The cabinet as set forth in aspect 10, wherein the threaded shaft is configured
to be threadably advanced downward by rotation with respect to the nut and wherein
the stop is configured to engage the threaded nut to limit downward adjustment of
the foot with respect to the bottom wall.
- 12. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 9, wherein the support bracket
comprises a flange configured to at least one of (i) attach a kick plate to the cabinet
and (ii) attach the cabinet in side-by-side relation with another cabinet.
- 13. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 9, wherein the support bracket
comprises a front threaded opening and a rear threaded opening.
- 14. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 3, wherein the bottom wall comprises
a foam panel and the threaded shaft extending through the foam panel.
- 15. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 14, wherein the bottom wall comprises
an access opening extending through the foam panel.
- 16. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 15, further comprising an insulating
plug configured to be inserted into the access opening.
- 17. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 1,
wherein bottom wall has first, second, third, and fourth corner regions;
wherein the foot comprises a first foot located at the first corner region, a second
foot located at the second corner region, a third foot located at the third corner
region, a fourth foot located at the fourth corner region.
- 18. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in aspect 17, wherein each of the first
foot, the second foot, the third foot, and the fourth foot is partially received in
a respective access opening extending through a thickness of the bottom wall, wherein
the cabinet further comprises a center range gauge configured to be positioned in
each of the access openings to provide an indication of a center range position of
the respective one of the first foot, the second foot, the third food, and the fourth
foot.
- 19. The cabinet as set forth in aspect 1, further comprising a floor glide on the
bottom wall of the cabinet and spaced apart from the foot, wherein the foot is movable
relative to the bracket to an upper position at which a bottom of the foot is above
a bottom of the floor glide to a lower position at which the bottom of the foot is
below the bottom of the floor glide.
- 20. The cabinet as set forth in aspect 19, wherein the floor glide is configured to
enable the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployment position and the
foot is configured to be lowered after the cabinet is at the deployment position to
support the cabinet at the deployment position on the foot.
- 21. A support assembly for a refrigerated cabinet, the support assembly comprising:
a support bracket including at least one threaded opening; and
an adjustable foot for each of the at least one threaded opening, each adjustable
foot including a threaded shaft threadably received in the threaded opening, the threaded
shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion spaced apart along an axis
of the threaded shaft, the upper end portion of the threaded shaft including a peripheral
annular groove, each adjustable foot further including a retaining ring received in
the peripheral annular groove, the retaining ring being sized and arranged to engage
an upper portion of the support bracket when the adjustable foot is threadably advanced
downward to a bottom position of the adjustable foot, whereby the retaining ring forms
a stop that limits downward movement of the adjustable foot with respect to the support
bracket.
1. A refrigeration cabinet, the cabinet comprising:
walls separating an exterior of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is
configured to be refrigerated by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet,
the walls including a bottom wall;
a foot connected to the bottom wall for supporting the bottom wall on a support surface,
the foot being selectively movable relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical
position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall;
wherein the bottom wall is configured such that the foot is accessible from within
the interior of the cabinet to allow a user to selectively move the foot to adjust
the vertical position of the foot with respect to the bottom wall; and
wherein the foot includes a stop configured to limit downward adjustment of the foot
with respect to the bottom wall of the cabinet.
2. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the foot comprises a threaded
shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion spaced apart along an axis
of the threaded shaft.
3. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a projection
extending radially outward with respect to the axis at the upper end portion of the
threaded shaft.
4. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper end portion of
the threaded shaft comprises a peripheral annular groove.
5. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 4, wherein the stop comprises a retaining
ring received in the peripheral annular groove.
6. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 5, wherein the retaining ring comprises
an external shaft ring having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length
extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the length of the
external shaft ring extending in a loop about the axis of the threaded shaft such
that the first end portion is located adjacent to the second end portion and is spaced
apart from the second end portion by slit in the retaining ring, optionally
wherein the first end portion and the second end portion of the retaining ring each
having a radial dimension with respect to the axis of the threaded shaft that is greater
than a radial dimension of a segment of the length of the external shaft ring spaced
apart between the first end portion and the second end portion and which segment extends
a majority of the length of the retaining ring.
7. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 2-6, further comprising
a support bracket connected to the bottom wall, wherein the foot is coupled to the
support bracket.
8. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 7, wherein the support bracket comprises
a threaded opening and the threaded shaft is threadably received in the threaded opening
such that the vertical position of the foot is adjustable by rotating the foot relative
to the support bracket.
9. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in claim 8, wherein the support bracket comprises
a bracket plate and a nut affixed to the bracket plate, the nut defining at least
a portion of the threaded opening, optionally
wherein the threaded shaft is configured to be threadably advanced downward by rotation
with respect to the nut and wherein the stop is configured to engage the threaded
nut to limit downward adjustment of the foot with respect to the bottom wall.
10. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 8-9, wherein the support
bracket comprises a flange configured to at least one of (i) attach a kick plate to
the cabinet and (ii) attach the cabinet in side-by-side relation with another cabinet.
11. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 8-10, wherein the support
bracket comprises a front threaded opening and a rear threaded opening.
12. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 2-11, wherein the bottom
wall comprises a foam panel and the threaded shaft extending through the foam panel,
optionally
wherein the bottom wall comprises an access opening extending through the foam panel,
and further optionally
further comprising an insulating plug configured to be inserted into the access opening
13. The refrigerated cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 1-12,
wherein bottom wall has first, second, third, and fourth corner regions;
wherein the foot comprises a first foot located at the first corner region, a second
foot located at the second corner region, a third foot located at the third corner
region, a fourth foot located at the fourth corner region, optionally
wherein each of the first foot, the second foot, the third foot, and the fourth foot
is partially received in a respective access opening extending through a thickness
of the bottom wall, wherein the cabinet further comprises a center range gauge configured
to be positioned in each of the access openings to provide an indication of a center
range position of the respective one of the first foot, the second foot, the third
food, and the fourth foot.
14. The cabinet as set forth in any one of claims 1-13, further comprising a floor glide
on the bottom wall of the cabinet and spaced apart from the foot, wherein the foot
is movable relative to the bracket to an upper position at which a bottom of the foot
is above a bottom of the floor glide to a lower position at which the bottom of the
foot is below the bottom of the floor glide, optionallywherein the floor glide is
configured to enable the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployment
position and the foot is configured to be lowered after the cabinet is at the deployment
position to support the cabinet at the deployment position on the foot.
15. A support assembly for a refrigerated cabinet, the support assembly comprising:
a support bracket including at least one threaded opening; and
an adjustable foot for each of the at least one threaded opening, each adjustable
foot including a threaded shaft threadably received in the threaded opening, the threaded
shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion spaced apart along an axis
of the threaded shaft, the upper end portion of the threaded shaft including a peripheral
annular groove, each adjustable foot further including a retaining ring received in
the peripheral annular groove, the retaining ring being sized and arranged to engage
an upper portion of the support bracket when the adjustable foot is threadably advanced
downward to a bottom position of the adjustable foot, whereby the retaining ring forms
a stop that limits downward movement of the adjustable foot with respect to the support
bracket.